Step-ladder.



No. 636,507. Patented Nov. 7, 1899.

M. EICHLER.

STEP LADDER.

(Application filed. Aug. 2, 1899.)

5N0 Modal.)

THE mums PETERS cc PHOTO LITHOH ,V/ASHINGTON4 u. c.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORITZ EIOHLER, OF OARTHAGE, OHIO.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 636,507, datedNovember 7, 1899. Application filed August 2, 1899. Serial No. 725,865.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, MORITZ EICHLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Carthage, in the county of Hamilton and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStep-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in step-ladders, and hasfor its object to provide a ladder of a strong and durable constructionwhich shall be provided with props arranged in a new and improved way,so asto give greater protection against upsetting of the ladder while inuse.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction,combination, and arrangement of the various parts of the improvedstep-ladder, whereby certain important advantages are attained and theladder is made safer, stronger, and otherwise better adapted and moreconvenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the invention,Figure 1 is a side view showing the improved step-ladder opened orunfolded as it appears when in use. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.Fig. 3 is a rear View of the improved ladder. Fig. 4 is a side viewshowing the ladder in closed or folded position. Fig. 5 is an enlargedfragmentary View showing the means for forcing the props apart forlocking the various parts and also for bracing the ladder whennnfoldedand set up for use.

In the views, 1 1 indicate the rails of which the body of the ladder isformed, and 2 2 indicate the steps connecting said rails 1.

3 3 indicate the props, hinged or pivoted at their upper parts to theupper ends of the rails 1, as shown at 4, and adapted to fold outside ofsaid rails when the ladder is closed up, as shown in Fig. 4, and alsoadapted when the ladder is opened or unfolded, as seen in Fig. 1, toextend rearwardly behind and at angles to said rails 1 to brace andsupport the ladder. The props 3 are extended above the pivot pins orbolts 4 and also above the upper ends of the rails 1, as shown at 5, andto said extensions are pivoted, as shown at 6,

hand-rails 7, extending in front of and substantially parallel to theladder-rails 1 and connected at their lower ends to said rails l bymeans of bent links 8, each pivoted at one end to the hand-rail 7 and atits other end to the ladder-rail 1. The hand-rails 7 are adapted whentheladder is folded up, as shown in Fig. 4, to fold over the outer sidesof the props 3, and said rails 7 are extended above the top of theladder, as shown at 7 in the drawings, to permit of being grasped by theuser of the ladder when standing upon the topmost step, so that theentire height of the ladder may be used with safety. The extensions 7 ofthe hand-rails are tied together and braced by a cross-piece 7 a to givestability to said rails.

The pivot-bolts 6, connecting the extensions 5 of the props with thehand-rails 7, also act as pivots for the upper ends of fiat metal links9, held between the props and hand-rails at opposite sides of the ladderand extending down in a rearwardly-inclined direction, their lower endsbeing slotted, as shown at 10, to receive pivot bolts or pins 11 atopposite sides of a bucket rest or support 12, hinged, as shown at 13,to the topmost step of the ladder-body and extending rearwardly in linetherewith when the ladder is in opened or unfolded position, as shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, but adapted to move pivotally on said hinges 13 whenthe ladder is closed or folded up, so as to stand parallel with andbehind the rails 1, as shown in Fig. 4.

Links 14 connect the pivot-bolts ll of the bucket-rest 12 withtheopposite ends of a cross-bar 15, extending transverselybetween the props3, as shown in Fig. 3, and adapted to move down along slotted bearings16, formed in plates 17, secured to the rear sides of said props, andthe ends of said cross-bar 15 are also coupled by means of links 18 tothe hand-rails 7 at the central parts of said hand-rails, so that thetwo links 14 and 18 at each side of the ladderform in eifect a toggle orknuckle joint, one end of which is connected to and moved from thehand-rail 7 in the closing or opening of the ladder and the other end ofwhich is connected to and moved from the upper end 5 of the rear prop 3by means of the link 9 and pivot-bolt 11, the movement of the links 14being in unison with the folding or unfolding movement of thebucket-rest 12, on which the pivot-bolts 11 are carried. Thus it will beseen that when the ladder is opened or unfolded the rearward movement ofthe props 3 away from the body of the ladder will be imparted to thesaid toggle through hand-rails 7 and links 9 to move the crossbar 15 upalong its slotted guideways 16 in plates 17 of the props, and when theladder is closed or folded up the reverse movement of the props towardthe rails l of the ladder-body will be communicated through hand-rails 7and links 9 to move the said cross-bar15 up along its guideways 16 tothe upper ends of said guideways.

The cross-bar 15 is provided with shoulders 19 upon it to fitlooselyagainst the inner faces of the guide-plates 17, as seen in Fig.3, and the outer ends of said cross-bar are also provided with heads orenlargements 19, herein shown as nuts, fitting outside of the links 14and 18, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and in order to lock saidcross-bar 15 against downward movement along its guideways 16 in theprops when the ladder is in unfolded position, as shown in Figs. 1 and3, I provide means, as shown at 20, for forein g the lower ends of theprops away from each other to bring the plates 17 of the props intoforcible engagement with the links 14 and 18 to clamp said links betweenthe props and the heads or enlargements 19 at the ends of the crossbarto hold said cross-bar against movement downward along its guideways,and thereby to support the bueket rest 12 and hand-rails 7 in raisedposition for use. This means is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, andcomprises brace-bars 21, each pivotally secured at one end, as seen at22, to the rear face of one of the respective props 3, the opposite endsof said brace-bars being lapped and pivotally connected at 23. The freeends 24 of said bars beyond the pivot-point 23 are provided withrecesses 25 on their under sides, forming hook-like members adapted toengage over the shanks of headed pins 26, carried by the bars when saidbars are moved into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig.

When the ladder is folded or closed up, as shown in Fig. 4, thebrace-bars 21 are first swungpivotally upward to the position shown inFig. 5, so as to disengage the hook-like ends 24 of the brace-bars fromtheir pins 26 and draw the props 3 toward each other at their lowerends, thereby releasing the links 14 and 18 of the toggles. \Vhen thishas been accomplished, the props 3 are folded against the rails 1 of theladder-body, their movement being communicated through the variousconnections above set forth to the bucket-rest 12 and hand-rails 7 tofold these parts also compactly against the ladder-body, the cross-bar15 moving downward along its guideways 16 in the props. WVhen the ladderis opened or unfolded for use, the first movement is to spread the props3 back from the ladder-body, this movement serving to swing thebucket-rest 12 and hand-rails 7 into raised position and moving thecross-bar 15 upward along its guideways 16 in the props. The bars 21 arethen pressed down to their horizontal positions, (shown in Fig. 5,) soas to engage their hooked ends 24 with the pins 26 to hold the bars inplace against further downward movement and also to force said propsaway from each other to cause them to bear at points on the floorconsiderably beyond and outside of the lower ends of the rails 1 of theladder-body, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to afford greaterprotection against the upsetting of the ladder when in use. The forcingof the props away from each other near their lower ends also serves, asabove stated, to clamp the toggle-links 14 and 18 between the nuts orheads 19 of the cross-bar 15 and the outer faces of the said props, soas to lock said cross-bar against movement along its guideways 16 in theprops, and thereby to hold the hand-rails and bucket-rest in raisedposition while the ladder is in use. Moreover, the arrangement of thelinks and the connection between the handrails and props afford a securebracing for the props to prevent them from spreading or moving pivotally upon the ladder-body when the ladder is fully opened for use.

The improved ladder constructed as above described is of an extremelysimple, compact, and strong construction and is especially well adaptedfor use since it permits the full length of theladder to be utilizedwith safety, owing to the projection of the hand-rails above the topmoststep in position to be grasped by a person standing upon said step. Theladder also permits of use as an ordinary wall-ladder, since when foldedor closed, as shown in Fig. 4, the projecting upper ends or extensions 7of the hand-rails serve to engage the wall at a considerable distanceabove the upper ends of the rails 1 of the ladderbody, so as to give theladder when thus used a greater effective length than it would have weresaid extensions not present. Owing to the means provided for forcing thelower ends of the props apart they are caused to rest on the floor atpoints outside of the lower ends of the rails 1 of the ladder-body, soas to effectively brace and support the ladder when in use.

It will also be seen from the above description that the improved ladderis capable of some modification without material departure from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do notwish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form andarrangement of the several parts herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a ladder, thecombination of a body, props pivotally connected thereto,a hand-railcarried by the body and adapted to be raised and lowered, mechanism formoving the props away from each other and means controlled by saidprop-moving mechanism for holding the hand-rail in raised position,substantially each pivotally connected at one end to one of the propsand provided with a pin, the levers being pivotally connected andprovided with hook-like parts for engagement with said pins to stop thelevers against pivotal movement when the props are forced apart,substantially as set forth.

4. In a ladder, the combination of a body, props pivoted thereon, ahand-rail pivotally connected to the body,a bucket-rest also pivotallyconnected to the body, a cross-bar guided on the props, toggle-linksconnecting the cross-bar to the hand-rail and bucket-rest,- and meansfor holding said cross-bar against movement, substantially as set forth.

5. In a ladder, the combination of a body, props pivoted thereon, ahand-rail pivotally connected to the body,a bucket-rest also pivotallyconnected to the body, a cross-bar guided on the props, toggle-linksconnecting the cross-bar to the handrail and bucket-rest, means forforcing the props away from each other, and a device controlled by saidmeans and arranged to hold said cross-bar against movement on the props,substantially as set forth.

6. In a ladder, the combination of a body, props pivoted thereon, ahand-rail pivotally connected to the body,a bucket-rest also pivotallyconnected to the body, a cross-bar guided on the props and having headsat its ends, toggle-links connected, respectively, to the handrail andbucket-rest, and held on the ends of the cross-bar between the saidheads and the sides of the props, and means for forcing the props awayfrom each other to clamp the links between them and the heads of thecross-bar, substantially as set forth.

7. In a ladder, the combination of a body,

props pivotally connected thereto, a bucket-' rest also pivotallyconnected to the body, a link having one end pivotally connected to thebucket-restand having its opposite end arranged for sliding engagementwith the props to permit the bucket-rest to be moved pivotally upon thebody, and means for'holding the link against sliding movement when thebucket-rest is moved in position for use, substantially as setforth.

position,

8. In a ladder, the combination of a body, props pivotally connectedthereto, a bucketrest also pivotally connected to the body, a connectionbetween the props and the bucketrest whereby the latter is raised andlowered into and out of position for use when the props are moved pivotally on the body, a link having one end pivotally connected to thebucket-rest and having its opposite end arranged for sliding engagementwith the props and means for holding the link against sliding movementwhen the bucket-rest is moved into position for use, substantially asset forth.

9. In a ladder, the combination of a body, props pivotally connectedthereto, a bucketrest also pivotally connected to the body, a connectionbetween the props and the bucketrest whereby the latter is raised andlowered into and out of position for use when the props are movedpivotally on the body, means for forcing the props away from each other,a link connected at one end to the bucket-rest and having its oppositeend arranged for sliding engagement with the props and means actuated bythe movement of the props away from each other, for holding said linkagainst sliding movement on the props, substantially as set forth.

10. In a ladder, the combination of abody, props pivotally connectedthereto, a han d-rail also pivotally connected to the body, a connectionbetween the props and the hand-rail whereby the latter is raised andlowered when the props are moved pivotally on the body, a link havingone end pivotally connected to the hand-rail and having its opposite endarranged for sliding engagement with the props, and means for holdingthe link against sliding movement upon the props when the handrail israised, substantially as set forth.

11. In a ladder, the combination of a body, props pivotally connectedthereto, a hand-rail also pivotally connected to the body, a connectionbetween the props and the hand-rail whereby the latter is raised andlowered when the props are moved pivotally on the body, means forforcing the props away from each other, a link connected at one end tothe hand-rail and having its opposite end arranged for slidingengagement with the props, and means actuated by the movement of theprops away from each other for holding said link against slidingmovement upon the props, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me at Cincinnati, Ohio, this 31st day of July, 1899.

MORITZ EIOHLER.

IIO

